Bicycle Mechanics - How to get in practice?

I took some classes some time back on how to repair bikes, and now when I went to some bike shops in the area, they don't seem to want to hire unless you have experience. I was thinking about buying a couple of junk bikes at the yard sales this summer, then tearing them apart and using Barnett's or the Bicycling magazine maintenance guides to figure out what I'm doing. I'm just wondering what people think about this idea. Does it sound good, or should I just keep on looking until I find some desperate, poor slob who needs a set of spare hands who's willing to let me fiddle around with fixing bikes?

L

I took some classes some time back on how to repair bikes, and now when I went to some bike shops in the area, they don't seem to want to hire unless you have experience. I was thinking about buying a couple of junk bikes at the yard sales this summer, then tearing them apart and using Barnett's or the Bicycling magazine maintenance guides to figure out what I'm doing. I'm just wondering what people think about this idea. Does it sound good, or should I just keep on looking until I find some desperate, poor slob who needs a set of spare hands who's willing to let me fiddle around with fixing bikes?

L

I actually had to work as an unpaid intern at a shop until I got the hang of basic repairs and now I'm learning as I go, but can handle virtually any job at this point about 3 months later. I got offered my first job at my LBS last year cause I was in there hanging out with everyone so much, and they figured they would use me primarily on the sales/stock end of things until I picked up some mechanical knowledge. That job didn't work out cause of school but same deal down here, I just came in to the LBS here a lot asked a lot of questions and was really nice to the mechanics, so they offered to train me. :)

I offered to work unpaid. I just wanted to learn, that's all. I understand, though. When you're fixing someone's bike, no one wants people who are experimenting! They want experience.

I bought tools and a workstand, and I'm going to download the Barnett manual and I'll practice at home on a junker bike. I think this may be the best way for me to learn about bikes, and then I can go to the shops and tell them what I know, I think. I think they would feel a little better if I could demonstrate to them that I have a basic understanding of bikes. Right now, I can't. Maybe it's lack of confidence and lack of experience because I've just recently took those classes, but they can definitely see it. :(

Thanks for the suggestion, though. I think once I've gotten some time under my belt, I'll go in and offer to help out in an unpaid capacity.

L

Try working for free, then when they're comfortable with you ask about possibly "trading" some of your work time for parts, gear, etc.

PJ

I think do whatever you can. If you're into it you'll enjoy spending time getting your hands dirty and wrenching the crap out of old rusty bikes. I probably wouldn't bother paying a junk yard, keep your eyes peeled in dumpsters, down back alleys, wasteland etc. and you'll have a collection of parts and frames in no time, especially if you have a car to transport them in. Most stuff that gets abandoned has at least something worth salvaging. If you have room, collect and swap stuff around, build up jubnkers, make them run and sell cheap if you want, or guive them to local kids or something. If you haven't ever built a bike from scratch that's a good starting point, take everything apart and put it all back together. The more you practice the more you'll learn.. The last head mechanic I worked for (who was also the national team mechanic) says he never stops learning. Depending on where you're at, if it's a decent sized city, there may well be a community workshop in your area that will operate along the lines of people volunteer to man the workshop at certain hours, and anyone that wants to can come in and use the tools and spare parts in return for whatever they can afford, also acting as a recycling centre for used parts. Volunteering at one of these if possible would give you a decent amount of 'shop' experience. The most troublesome bikes are always the neglected rusty clunkers, not the shiny racers, so if you can handle yourself on these then you'll be doing alright :)

Make yourself an advert that you can pin up in the local supermarkets for bike repair and tune-ups. Maybe put a copy through the mail slots in the homes in your heighborhood. This wont produce full time employment but it will give you the experience the bike shops are asking for. It should also provide references that you can give to the bike shops.